From the capital, Nouméa, to the mainland and its islands, New Caledonia has an endless number of attractions to make your stay a pure moment of well-being and relaxation. Forget the stress of everyday life, the obligations of a very regulated life, and let yourself be carried away!

Islands' vanilla

150 years ago, the very first vanilla plants were grown at Ahmelewedr by an English missionary. Today, vanilla is a leading-light produce on the biggest of the Loyalty Islands. Lifou vanilla is a must with fish, in custard or simply to add flavor to your sugar.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

Moving around

The simplest and easiest way to travel around New Caledonia is by car. However, you’ll need to turn to other means of transport if your plans include a trip to the Loyalty Islands, and you can also travel around the Main Island on scheduled bus and coach services to destinations on both the West and East Coasts.

The essential

Rent a car

Take the bus lines

Travel to the islands by plane or by boat

From Tontouta Airport to Noumea

Getting around in Noumea

Rent a car and go where you like, when you like

Renting a car is an excellent way of visiting New Caledonia. The road system is very well maintained overall and, unless you intend to drive on the minor mountain roads, you won’t need to rent a 4WD.

Note: fuel prices are strictly regulated. Whether you fill up at a big supermarket in Noumea or in a remote outback service station, you’ll pay the same price per litre. You can’t argue with that! Although New Caledonia now boasts a very extensive network of service stations, it’s a good idea to think ahead on Sundays and some public holidays, when you could have more difficulty in finding somewhere open in the North or along the East Coast.

Coach routes serving 360 stops

You don’t fancy driving but you’d still like to travel around the Main Island? The long-distance coach network (www.rai.nc - Tel +687 05 81 61) is the ideal solution! Offering 25 routes and 360 stops throughout the country, the RAI network of 40 long-distance touring coaches is an easy and affordable way of seeing the sights of New Caledonia.

Getting to the islands? By air or by sea, it’s up to you!

The fastest way to travel to the islands is by air. New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Calédonie www.air-caledonie.nc operates from Magenta airport in Noumea, running scheduled flights to the Isle of Pines and to the main Loyalty Islands (Maré, Lifou & Ouvéa). To move around Loyalty Islands, Air Loyauté airline www.air-loyaute.nc proposes inter-island connections (flight last between 25 and 35 minutes from Lifou).

If travelling by sea is your fancy, you can also get to the Isle of Pines, Maré or Lifou aboard hi-speed passenger catamaran Betico 2. You’ll find schedules and prices on www.betico.nc.

From Tontouta Airport to Noumea

If you’re making your own arrangements for your stay in New Caledonia, unless you’re renting a car on arrival, don’t forget to book ahead for a shuttle service from the airport to wherever you’re staying in Noumea. Several private firms offer shuttle services at very comparable prices. Some of the most popular : Les Mouettes, Arc en ciel, Philotours, Go Shuttle, or Allo Transports.

Getting around in Noumea

You can visit most of the city on foot or by hopping aboard one of the little tourist trains which follow routes taking in all the major sights - Tel +687 25 30 55 or 77 21 76. If you want to get from one neighbourhood to another, you can either call a taxi Tel +687 28 35 12 - www.noumea.nc/taxi, choose from selected taxis to premium class vehicles Tel +687 510 110 - www.pickme.nc, travel on the “Karuïa Bus” city bus routes Tel +687 26 97 10 - www.karuiabus.nc or rent a moped or a bike. Noumea is quite a hilly city, so you’ll need to be fairly fit to go sightseeing by bike!

And finally, the most attractive and exotic local means of transport deserves a mention: taxi-boats. You’ll find taxi-boats both in Noumea and in the bush, ready to whisk you off to dream islets just off the coast of the Main Island. An absolute must for any visitor to New Caledonia! Various private operators run services from Noumea, Bourail, Boulouparis, La Foa, Poindimié, Poum, etc.

PickMe app

To find a professional driver or a taxi in Noumea, download the free app available on Android and iOS :